Barrie’s boundary expansion request continues to be a talking point with its neighbours.
The townships of Oro-Medonte and Springwater, the County of Simcoe and Barrie released a statement this morning updating these discussions.
Monday's statement says the players are developing "mutually acceptable approaches" to address growth pressures in the broader region.
These discussions are being supported by the Office of the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator, a provincial agency.
The next step is retaining Hemson Consulting to complete a joint land-needs analysis and study, which is intended to determine the need for additional employment and/or residential land within and around Barrie, Oro-Medonte and Springwater.
The study will be completed in phases, with the first including a review of Barrie’s existing land supply, coupled with a review of the needs of the participating municipalities arising from growth forecast to 2051.
The information gathered will serve as a foundation for further discussions on future options when this phase of the study is completed, which is expected later this fall.
Last November, Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall made a presentation to the provincial standing committee on heritage, infrastructure and cultural policy, regional governance and Bill 124, that included a proposal to expand Barrie’s boundaries into Oro-Medonte and Springwater.
Nuttall has said the boundary expansion is required because the city currently does not have sufficient employment land.
After hearing Nuttall’s plan, Oro-Medonte council said it was "not comfortable" with the boundary request from Barrie. In mid-February, Oro-Medonte council voted to support a report from the township’s planner which called for increased co-operation between the two municipalities and presented alternatives to Barrie’s initial proposal. Oro-Medonte council later authorized staff to seek a mediator to help them solve Barrie’s boundary expansion plans.
Last November, Springwater council voted unanimously to terminate discussions with Barrie regarding the city’s proposal for boundary adjustments and cross-border servicing.
In March 6, Springwater council voted to reverse that decision somewhat, voting to hold talks with the Barrie officials, but only regarding cross-border servicing. Springwater council demanded there be no discussion with Barrie about boundary expansion.
But later that month, township officials had a meeting with Nuttall to discuss the possibility of a partnership and were rebuffed.
In mid-April, neighbouring Oro-Medonte announced it would contact the provincial land and development facilitator to request assisted mediation regarding Barrie’s boundary expansion plans.
In May, Springwater councillors voted against participating in any meeting with a provincial land facilitator regarding Barrie’s proposal until it received a staff report that gave them the information they needed to make an informed decision.
Springwater council received the report it requested later that month and a special meeting of council was scheduled.
Following the closed portion of that meeting, Springwater council passed a resolution that directed the mayor, deputy mayor and chief administrative officer to participate in any future provincially led facilitation process on the matter should a Provincial Land and Development Facilitator be appointed.
